Machine for developing motion-picture films.



1.R.GRABERT L P. J. FRIEDRICHS.

MACHINE FOR DEVELOPING MOTION PICTURE FILMS.

APPLicATIoN HLED MAR.6.1915.

1,197,734, Pan1ef1sept.12,1916

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wmwww fa/wf@ J. Rt GRABERT I P.1.FRIEDRICHS. MACHINE FOR DEVELOPING NIOIION PICTURE FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.6.1915.

PatclItedSOpt. 12, 1916.

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UDOGDUO I I l UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

.IAMEs RENE GRABERT AND PHILIP JOHN ERIEDEICHS, 0E NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA,

ASSIGNORS 0F @NE-THIRD T0 CHARLES CARROLL, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

MACHINE FOR DEVELOPING MOTION-PICTURE FILMS.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed March 6, 1915. .Serial No. 12,599. v

apparatus and particularly to an apparatus 4 of this general character which is especially adapted for use in facilitating the developingof continuous films used in motion plcture machines.4 j

Heretofore continuous films have been developed by immersing themfin a developing fluid contained in a large tank; the films being unwoiind from their spools in order that the developing fluid might attack every-part thereof. In a ,proceeding of this kind, as may readily be seen, a very large quantity of'vdeveloping fluid and considerable room is required, as the-film is laid or piled in the tank inloops or festoons; and after the film is thus developed, it requires a great deal of trouble and care to rewind it on the spool in a neat and orderly manner. Furthermore, in the process of rewinding the film on the spool, there is always danger of injuring it regardlessof the pains taking care and the time involved. I

It is 'the primary object of our invention to provide a film developing apparatus in which the film maybe handled in a compact and efficient manner, and subjected to the developing fluid, uniformly from end to end.

Another object of our invention is to so construct the apparatus that only a smallv amount ofthe developing fluid will be required to properly-develop the film.

Still another object of our invention 'is to construct the apparatus so that the film, while being immersed in the fluid, will be retained'in a neat and orderly manner.

Still another object of our'invention is to so construct th'e apparatus that the film will be caused to traverse the receptacle in a single layer, also in a vertical position.

With these and minor objects in view our invention resides in an apparatus embodying the'essential'features of construction and coperative relationship pointed out in the subj oined claims, and explained by the illustrative embodiment fully set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings; also in certain novel details of construction to be found in said illustrative embodiment, as also pointed out in the claims.

In said drawings z-Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the receptacle and support; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the receptacle with the support therein; Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a portion of the support; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the reels showing the end of the film attached thereto; Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a portion of the film attaching means.

Referring to the illustrative embodiment in detail, l represents afluid receptacle and 2 a film support having a base 3 substantially the same in horizontal dimension, preferably as the bottom ofthe fluid receptacle in order to position the support against displacement in the receptacle. Mounted, and spaced apart on the film support2 are a pair of film reels 4 and 5 either of which is adaptedto receive and store a continuous film from an external holder and thereafter deliver it to the other` reel as'the film is traversed through the fiuid within the receptacle.

6 represents a bearing member removably mounted on the film support 2 parallel with the base 3, by means of uprights 7 and attaching screws 8. This bearing member and the base 3 of the film support provide journal bearings for the film reels 4 and 5. Supported on the member 6 is a bearing bar 9 which may have an intermediate raised portion 10 providing a handle for the film support; and this bar 9, together with the member 6 provides journal bearings for the reel-driving gears at the respective ends,

each gear comprising pinions 11 and 12, one

Mcrank 13.

The film reels 4 and 5 are provided with clips for attaching the film thereto. Each clip comprises a plate 14 rounded to conform with the reel and constructed with vnotched pins l5 which are adapted to pierce the film and engage suitable openingsl' in lib the reel. These openings lhave decreased portions 17 engaging with the pin notches, by an endwise movement of the plate, thereby providing slot and 'pin connections for'4 preventing the accidental removal of the attaching clips. I The operation of the device is as follows Figs. v1 and 2), by means ofthe attaching' clip; then the crank 137i's rotated, thereby winding the film on the reel, after which the l'oose end of the film thus Wound is attached to the reel 4 in the same manner. The crank is then transferred to the axle of the pinion 12, which drives the reel 4. With the film thus attached, the support is placed in the fluid receptacle and sufiicient fluid poured vtherein tof immerse the film, the fluid level being preferably at the lframe member 6. The crank is then rotated and the film caused to traverse the fluid in the receptacle, in a vertical plane, by winding the film from one reel to the other; the film may be passed through the 'developing fluid as many times as desired, or the developing, fixing and washing 'fluids successively if a pluralityr of -fluidsare successively introduced into the receptacle, it being merely necessary to shift the crank from one pinion 12 `to the other'. as the flm'is to be wound back and forth. With the film thus developed, the support is removed from the fluid receptacle and the film wound upon one of the reels 4 or 5. To remove the-film from the support, the thumb screws 8 are takenl out'and the parallel member 6 removed, after whichthe I wound film and reel may be transferred bodily for winding off' on the drying frame or other desired manipulation.

From the above Vdescription itnmay be'A without the use of' a large tank on a largev Vquantity of developing fluid.

We claim :e l. In a film developer, embodying in its structure, a vfluidreceptacle, the combination of a support, a film storing and traversing means .provided on. said support adapted to receive and store the film from anv external holder and traverse it within the receptacle, said film storing andI traversing means comprising a pair of reels spaced apart on the support, and said support comprising upper and lower members'between which said reels are journaled in vertical position whereby the film in traversing the developing fluid is held in a vertical plane.

2. In a film developer, the combination.

of a fluid receptacle, a support independent vreceive and store the film from an external holder and traverse it within the receptacle;

prising a pair ofreels spaced apart-on the support, and said support comprising upper and lower members'between which said reels are journaled in iverticalposition,v whereby the film, in traversing thedeveloping fluid is held in a vertical plane.

said film storing and traversing means comj 3. In a film, developer, the combination of a fluid receptacle, a support independent of but adapted to-be applied to the fluid receptacle, and film storing4 and traversing means provided on saidA support adapted to receive and store the film from'an external holder and traverse it within the receptacle; said film storing and traversing means comprising a pair of reels spaced apart on the support, and said support comprising three parallel members, the intermediate lower member providing journal bearings for saidreels and the intermediate and upper mem- .ber providingjournal bearings for a reel driving means. l

. 4. In alm developer, the combination of a fluid receptacle, a support independent of :but adapted to be applied to the fluid receptacle, and film storing and traversing means provided on said support adapted to receive and store the film from an external holder and traverse it within the receptacle;

said film storing and traversing means comprising a pair of reels spaced .apart on the support, and said support comprising three parallel members, the intermediate lower. `Amember providing journal bearings for said t"reels and the intermediate and upper members providing journal bearings for a reel driving means; and said reel driving means comprising a pairof toothed pinions.

5. In a film developer, the combination of a fluid receptacle, a support independent of but adapted to be applied to the fluid receptacle, and film. storing and traversing means provided on said support adapted to receive and store the film from an external holder and traverse it within the receptacle; said film storing and traversing means comprising a pair of reels spaced apart on the support, and said support comprising three parallel members; the lowerl member providing a' base having a dimension substantially that of the bottom of the fluid receptacle, and the upper member having a handle for lifting ythe support to and from the fluid receptacle.

6. In a film developer, the combination of a fluid receptacle, a support independent of) but adapted to bel applied to the fluid ieholder and traverse it Within the receptacle; Orleans, Louisiana, this l8thfday ofy Febsaid film storing and traversing means eomruary, 1915.

prsing a, pail' 0f IeelS spaced O11 the support and said support comprlsinfr three 5 parallelmembers, the intermediate ald up PHILIP JOHN FRIEDRICHS per members being removable from the In presence ofloWer member. IRWIN A. BEYERs The foregoing specification slgned at New Azzo J. PLOUGH. 

